Colchester Town Hall’s majestic Edwardian organ is at the heart of the town’s musical life, featuring in lunchtime recitals, concerts, civic ceremonies and weddings. First installed by Norman & Beard in 1902, a Heritage Lottery Fund-sponsored restoration was completed in 2015, enabling the Moot Hall Organ to be heard and enjoyed by people of all ages and by future generations.

1pm, Tuesday 13th March 2018 in the Moot Hall, admission free with retiring collection. ‘ALFRED THE GREAT’ (not the one that burnt the cakes) – Ian Ray (Hon. Borough Organist) explores the music of Alfred Hollins (1865 – 1942). Grand Choeur no 1 in G minor (1895) A Trumpet Minuet (1929) Spring Song (1904) A Song of […]

Lunchtime recitals on the Moot Hall Organ for January to March 2018 are listed below. Entry free, with retiring collection for the Friends of the Moot Hall Organ. Download the series flyer here. 1pm, Tuesday 9th January 2018: ‘Something borrowed’ Philip Prior (St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall) plays well-known tunes in arrangements by various composers. […]

We can now announce details of the Autumn 2017 lunchtime recitals on the magnificent Moot Hall Organ; listen to this splendid instrument whilst enjoying the ambiance of Colchester’s elegant Town Hall. Admission free, with retiring collection in aid of The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ. 1pm, Tuesday 3rd October 2017 Daniel Gárdonyi (Wurzburg, Germany) […]

Sunday 10 September (note change of date and times!) is Heritage Open Day 2017 at the Town Hall and as part of that we will have a special ‘Meet (and play) the Moot Hall Organ’ event from 12 noon to 2pm. An opportunity for everyone to play this fantastic instrument! Full details soon.

The Summer 2017 Lunchtime Recitals will be as follows – admission is free with retiring collection in aid of The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ: 1pm, Tuesday 4th July 2017: ‘Organ Kaleidoscope’ Willliam Saunders (Director of Music, Royal Hospital School) plays music by Elgar, Saint-Saëns & Rawsthorne. 1pm, Tuesday 1st August 2017: Music for […]

For our latest organist interview, Hon Borough Organist Ian Ray has kindly shared with us his earliest memories of the Moot Hall Organ, thoughts about the latest restoration, the role of a Borough Organist, the nature of the ‘town hall’ repertoire, composing for the organ and the musical life of the Moot Hall. See the full […]

The next series of Lunchtime Recitals on the magnificent Moot Hall Organ will be as follows – admission is free with retiring collection in aid of The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ: 1pm, Tuesday 4th October 2016: ‘Two’s Company’ Allan Granville and Christopher Roberts play music for piano duo on the recently acquired new Boston […]